Concussion care requires dedicated attention and expertise
Headache medicine specialists are uniquely qualified to provide this care. This is because of many factors.
One of the factors is that headache is the most prevalent symptom in concussion, tending to appear rather early after injury, persisting as most other symptoms of concussion dissipate. At iNHS, this fact is recognized as a clue to the mechanism of injury that underlies most concussions as opposed to the mechanisms that lead to the more moderate or severe brain injuries.
Another fact is the absence of any noted abnormality on routine imaging in most concussion injuries. Headache Medicine specialists are well versed in assessing patient’s concerns in absence of imaging abnormalities. Certain specialized imaging techniques maybe of better use in helping our concussed patients. This is of utmost importance in the care of concussed patients with delayed symptom resolution. The symptoms can include headache and dizziness, as well as impaired cognition, processing speed, impaired sleep, and mood. These symptoms are clearly related to the injury and truly impact the patient’s quality of life. However, non-specialized physicians tend to minimize symptoms that persist and may not address the need for ongoing treatment to help expedite full recovery.
At iNHS, concussion care is not limited to post event injury treatment. Detailed risk assessment consultation can be performed to help for future strategic planning before any injury has occurred. This type of consultation has been most commonly performed in aspiring high performance athletes with prior concussions.